Neumann BCM 104: Did Somebody Sit on It?

I’ve never used the Neumann BCM 104. Let’s get that out of the way immediately.

I’ve looked at it, though. And every time I do, I have the same question: what happened? Did somebody sit on it? Did it get caught in a vise?

I feel like Howard Stern ought to take a look at this thing. It’s one of the few microphones I’ve seen that could give him some competition in the looks department.

What Exactly Is Going On Here?

I’m sure there is a rationale for the design. Neumann doesn’t generally make microphones by accident. The BCM 104 is a large-diaphragm condenser designed specifically for broadcast speech, with a distinctive flattened housing and side-address arrangement.

But I don’t get it.

From an acoustic standpoint, I keep trying to work out what the unusual shape is supposed to accomplish. If minimizing reflections from the microphone body were the overriding objective, an end-address arrangement would seem like a more intuitive place to start.

Is the idea to control or disperse reflections toward the back wall? Maybe. But in a typical broadcast installation you’re often sitting in a treated studio or booth anyway. So I’m not convinced by that explanation, either.

To be clear, these are questions, not conclusions from testing. I haven’t measured the microphone, and I’m not going to pretend I know more about the engineering rationale than the people who designed it.

It Probably Sounds Great

And here’s the frustrating part: it probably sounds terrific.

It’s a Neumann. That isn’t a guarantee that every microphone they make will be the right choice for every application, but it certainly gives me reason to expect a competent, carefully engineered product.

There are perfectly sensible reasons for a broadcaster to choose a purpose-built speech microphone. That still doesn’t mean I want this particular one staring at me across the desk.

The Verdict

Can I recommend the BCM 104 on sound quality? No. I’ve never used one, and it would be ridiculous to manufacture a listening impression.

Can I offer an opinion on the appearance? Absolutely.

I don’t get it. I don’t want it. Get it out of my sight, please.

Thank you.